Welcome back, forward-thinking business owners! We trust that Week 2 of Curizar’s 30-Day Small Business Growth Challenge helped you strengthen your content and connections. Now, in Week 3, we’re shifting gears to focus on making sure your ideal customers can actually find you and that you’re deeply rooted in the local Minnesota community that supports you. This week is all about Visibility & Local Love.
Getting seen in today’s crowded marketplace requires a strategic approach. It’s not enough to have a great product or service; you need to ensure that those who need you can easily discover you, both online and within your local sphere. This week’s tasks are designed to increase your visibility and foster meaningful relationships within your community. Let’s get visible.
Day 15: Optimize One Existing Blog Post for SEO. Unlock Hidden Search Traffic.
- Cost: Time investment
- Value: Medium
- Future Impact: High
- Length: 1-2 hours
Remember those core keywords you brainstormed back in Week 1? Today, it’s time to put them to work. Choose one of your existing blog posts and strategically incorporate those keywords naturally into the text, headings, subheadings, image alt text, and meta description.
Why it matters: Optimizing your existing content for SEO can significantly improve its ranking in search engine results, driving more organic traffic to your website. It’s a cost-effective way to leverage the content you’ve already created and reach a wider audience actively searching for information related to your business. (Local SEO is our jam at Curizar, and we can help you identify the most impactful keywords for your Minnesota business.)
Practical Tip: Don’t just stuff keywords in; ensure they flow naturally within your content. Focus on providing valuable information while subtly incorporating the terms your ideal customers are using. Use tools like Yoast SEO (if you’re on WordPress) to guide your optimization efforts.
Day 16: List Your Business in One New Online Directory. Expand Your Digital Footprint.
- Cost: $ (Often free or low-cost for basic listings)
- Value: Low
- Future Impact: Medium
- Length: 15-30 minutes per directory
While Google is king, it’s wise to cast a wider net. Today, identify and list your business in one new online directory relevant to your industry or your local area. Think niche directories, local business associations’ websites, or platforms like Yelp (if you haven’t already).
Why it matters: Online directories can increase your business’s visibility and provide valuable backlinks to your website, which can indirectly improve your search engine rankings. They also offer another avenue for potential customers to discover you.
Practical Tip: Focus on quality over quantity. Choose reputable directories with good domain authority. Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information is consistent with your Google Business Profile and website.
Day 17: Engage with Another Local Business on Social Media. Support Your Neighbors.
- Cost: Time investment
- Value: Low
- Future Impact: Medium
- Length: 10-15 minutes
Community thrives on connection. Today, take a few minutes to find another local Minnesota business on social media (one that complements yours but isn’t a direct competitor) and engage with one of their recent posts. Leave a thoughtful comment, share their content, or send them a direct message expressing your support.
Why it matters: Engaging with other local businesses can foster goodwill, build relationships, and potentially lead to cross-promotional opportunities down the line. It shows you’re an active and supportive member of the local business ecosystem.
Practical Tip: Look for businesses whose values align with yours or whose audience might also be interested in your offerings. Genuine engagement is key – avoid generic comments.
Day 18: Create a Short Video Explaining Your Core Offering. Capture Attention Visually.
- Cost: $ (depending on DIY vs. professional)
- Value: High
- Future Impact: High
- Length: 1-3 hours for planning and recording if DIY; longer if using professional services
Video is an incredibly powerful and engaging medium. Today, plan and create a short video (aim for 1-2 minutes) that clearly explains your core product or service and its key benefits. Keep it concise, compelling, and visually appealing. (Curizar’s professional videography services can help you create high-impact videos that truly capture your brand’s essence.)
Why it matters: Videos can convey a lot of information quickly and memorably. They can humanize your brand, showcase your offerings in action, and significantly increase engagement on your website and social media channels.
Practical Tip: Keep your target audience in mind. What are their biggest questions about your offering? Address those directly in your video. Use clear visuals, good lighting, and a concise script. Even a well-produced smartphone video can be effective.
Day 19: Check Your Website’s Loading Speed. Don’t Make Visitors Wait.
- Cost: $ (Time investment using free online tools)
- Value: Medium
- Future Impact: Medium
- Length: 15-30 minutes
In today’s fast-paced digital world, website visitors have little patience for slow-loading pages. Today, use a free online website speed test tool (like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix) to analyze your website’s loading time. Identify any major bottlenecks that might be causing delays.
Why it matters: A slow-loading website can lead to a high bounce rate (visitors leaving before the page fully loads), negatively impacting your SEO and user experience. Aim for a load time of under three seconds.
Practical Tip: The speed test tools will often provide recommendations for improvement, such as optimizing images, minifying code, or leveraging browser caching. While some fixes might require technical expertise, identifying the issues is the first step.
Day 20: Share a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Your Business. Show the Human Side!
- Cost: Time investment
- Value: Medium
- Future Impact: Medium
- Length: 15-30 minutes
People connect with people. Today, give your audience a glimpse behind the curtain of your business. Share a photo or short video of your workspace, your team in action, your process, or even a fun company culture moment.
Why it matters: Behind-the-scenes content humanizes your brand, builds authenticity, and allows your audience to connect with the people behind the products or services they use. It fosters a sense of transparency and trust.
Practical Tip: Keep it real and relatable. You don’t need fancy production; a simple, authentic snapshot or video can be very effective. Share it on your social media channels and consider adding it to your website’s “About Us” or team page.
Day 21: Review Your Website’s Call-to-Actions. Guide Your Visitors.
- Cost: Time investment
- Value: Medium
- Future Impact: Medium
- Length: 30-45 minutes
Your website should guide visitors on what you want them to do next. Today, review the call-to-action (CTA) buttons and links on your key website pages. Are they clear, compelling, and strategically placed? Do they encourage visitors to take the desired action, whether it’s contacting you, learning more, making a purchase, or signing up for your email list?
Why it matters: Effective CTAs are crucial for converting website visitors into leads or customers. Without clear guidance, visitors may not know what to do next and could leave your site without taking any action.
Practical Tip: Use action-oriented language (e.g., “Contact Us Now,” “Learn More Today,” “Download Your Free Guide”). Make your CTAs visually prominent with contrasting colors and clear typography. Ensure they are relevant to the content on the page.
Week 3: Becoming a Visible Local Favorite
Week 3 of the Curizar 30-Day Small Business Growth Challenge is all about stepping into the spotlight and strengthening your roots in the local Minnesota community. By optimizing your online presence for search, engaging locally, leveraging the power of video, and ensuring a user-friendly website experience, you’re making it easier for potential customers to find you and connect with your brand.
Ready to shine even brighter? Curizar specializes in Local SEO strategies, crafting engaging video content, and designing websites that not only look great but also perform flawlessly. Let us help you amplify your visibility and become a local favorite.
Let’s discuss how Curizar can help you get seen and loved in your community. Contact us today for a free consultation.
